Tuesday on the blog means that I get to share some of what I have seen and found interesting over the past week with all of you. To help make sense of all these thought-provoking pieces, I have grouped them by topics, which are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship and Miscellaneous. Without further adieu, I hope you enjoy these links!

For more on Peggy’s book, see this brief summary on the LEAD website. If you are wondering about what is LEAD, check out their overall website, and if you have seen it before come and check out their newly launched design. I am so excited about this because it is so user friendly and visually stunning.

This past weekend my wife Allison and I had the pleasure and privilege to be part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Youth Ministry Extravaganza, an annual conference for youth ministers, faith formation directors, and people who serve (by volunteering or on staff) in ministry with and to youth and young adults. Allison shared some of her reflections and thoughts here about our time in Detroit. I am planning on sharing some of mine later this week. Check this out!

Also with the Extravaganza in mind, friend, mentor and professor Dr. Terri Elton shared her own reflections on the past week and weekend in “and the floors need to be mopped,” thoughts both about ministry and the church as well as daily life and vocations.

Speaking of the Extravaganza, friend Chris Okey shared this picture as Lost and Found was honored with the Tommy Award for distinguished service to youth and family ministry in the ELCA as part of the fun at the Extravaganza. Also, Lost and Found will be performing in concert in the Twin Cities this coming Friday. I highly encourage you to check out that concert and their whole schedule here.

If you enjoy thought provoking questions and are interested in continued learning, reflection and discovery, I highly encourage you to check out and plan on attending the “Why Christian? Conference” this coming September being co-led and co-created by Rachel Held Evans and Nadia Bolz-Weber and featuring a great list of speakers, presenters and thinkers.

Blogger and pastor Jan Edmiston shared a few great posts over the past week. These included a reflection about “Managing Congregational Pain.” I greatly appreciate her conclusion and desire that all congregational leaders have coaches. She writes, “I’d like to make a specific pitch here. I believe that pastoral leaders of all levels of experience could use a coach. I’m not talking about a coach that tells you how to be as awesome as he/she is. I’m talking about someone with training to encourage you through painful seasons in your congregation’s life. It’s not too late to adopt this as a new year’s resolution. Every parish pastor I know is serving in the thick of congregational change. Yes, it’s painful. But we can not only manage it. We can thrive in it.” If you would like to learn more about congregational coaches, I recommend checking this group out for starters.

Values are important- both for organizations/teams and their leaders. Dave Hawley explains “Why Building Your Brand is all about Sharing Your Values.” There is good food for thought in this, including reflections about that: it’s not always about saving the world; the importance of listening and contributing; and it’s about them, not us.

What my friends and I have effectively named, “The Play that Shouldn’t have Been.” The moment the Patriots won, and the Seahawks came up a yard short.

You had to expect that given the Super Bowl happened just two days ago, that it would show up in the links today. Nonprofit with Balls shared a timely post (though with a sad title for Seahawks fans) in “5 lessons for nonprofits from the Seahawks’ bizarre Super Bowl loss.” The great lessons in this include: take more risks; don’t just innovate for innovation’s sake; give everyone on your team a chance; never give up; and community matters.

In a great and important piece, especially about women in leadership, Omid Aschari wrote and questioned, “Where are the women at Davos?” This is a strong and important piece and critique.

Friend and professor Ron Byrnes wrote that, “Fear is Contagious.” There are important implications and reminders for leadership and team building in this.

Lolly Daskal shared a list of “10 Ways You Can Create an Irresistibly Great Workplace.” The ways include: play your part; check your attitude toward mistakes; have nothing to hide; defy gravity; give people what they need and stay out of the way; create a compelling community; destroy the status quo; model the mission; celebrate pivotal moments; and groom new leaders.

In a post that has implications for collaboration, team building, connective leadership and even perhaps lay leadership (or volunteer leadership) within faith communities and nonprofits, Dan shared, “10 Ways to Divest and Distribute Control.”

Shane Raynor shared and wrote, “While You Were Wondering Where the Millennials Went…” A couple key thoughts in this include that: today if young people aren’t happy with a system, they’ll either find a better one to create their own; youth and young adults usually find a way to connect with each other; in order to thrive nowadays, and it helps if you know how to do a lot with a little.

In another social justice related story that clearly does not reflect well on the city of Seattle and makes me furious here’s a video of police jailing an “Elderly Military Veteran for ‘Walking in Seattle While Black.'” This is not acceptable by any level anywhere. This is continued proof that there is definitely work to be done in our society.

Friend and pastor Aaron Fuller shared a couple great posts. These included honest reflections in “Sermons: ‘There’s gotta be another way.‘” Aaron has also begun a new series in the spirit of the idea of a “Monday Morning Quarterback,” titled, “Monday Morning Preacher.” The first post in that series appeared this week on the “Lord’s Prayer.”

Friend and blogger J.W. Wartick shared his version of the links in his “Really Recommended Posts.” I am grateful J.W. that you included a link to one of my recent posts. Thank you! Be sure and follow J.W.’s blog for lots of great thoughts on theology and more.

Erin wrote for Young Adult Money about “How to Spend Your Money Meaningfully.” Things to keep in mind include reminders to: critically evaluate all of your purchases; ask yourself some important questions; create a list; spend intentionally; and put your money back to work for you.

Friend and blogger Angel Yackel shared some honest life and ministry related thoughts about “Welcome.”

One more thought about great leaders from the Extravaganza

Friends Katie and Will shared some more thoughts and reflections related to their first year of marriage and journeys and experiences in and around South Africa. Katie shared a “New Years Resolution” and Will shared some thoughts about “Unintended Learning.”

Friend and blogger Julia Nelson shared a couple vocationally rich posts including her “Friday Favorites,” and “Sunday Snippits,” both posts included pictures related to the Youth Ministry Extravaganza this past weekend. It was a joy to be there and to spend some time with Julia and her husband Zack as well.

A few more Seahawks and Super Bowl related posts to share. First, in preparation for the Super Bowl last week Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wrote, “One Mission.” Second, two elementary schools back in the Northwest celebrated and shared their love for the Seahawks last week as well. Queen Anne Elementary made a video, and Poulsbo Elementary held a parade. Finally, friend and professor Dr. Ron Byrnes wrote, “Thank You Pete Carroll.”

That concludes this week’s edition. As always, if you have topics or questions to think about on the blog, please let me know. Also, if you have articles or things that you would like to include in the links each week, please let me know that too. Until next time, thanks for reading and being part of the conversation. Blessings on your week! -TS